BC Notebook: More often than not, sportswriters have to wing it

If you are what you eat, I’d be a giant chicken wing — drowning in acidic buffalo sauce and delivered to a hotel room by a guy you’d swear you’ve seen on “Cops.”

An unhealthy profession is sportswriting. And as my much younger and skinnier colleague, Daniel Youngblood, will eventually find out, the lifestyle takes a toll on you.

The hours are long, the food is nearly always bad (or at least, bad for you), and by the time you get home from a two-day road trip, the mere thought of exercise is well, you just don’t think about it.

At the age of 23, I had 7 percent body fat. That’s no joke. Now, at the age of 45, I have 7 percent muscle mass, and I wish I was joking.

The only reason I’m not the fattest guy in the office is because the company hired Joey Richards and Sam Waller — two other middle-aged, wing-eating, motel-hopping sportswriters who make me look like Brad Pitt. Well, sort of.

But I have to put the whining aside. Because, truth be told, I really have nothing to whine about.

I go to Big Country sporting events and get paid to do it.

How cool is that?

Along the way, I get to build working relationships with coaches and athletes, many of whom are some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet.

Yes, I’m breaking down like a ’58 Edsel, but if I said I was anything other than blessed, I’d be lying.

So, if you see me walking up the bleachers at a football game and hear me griping about my aching back and sore knees, don’t take me seriously.

Bangs win a long time coming

The regional championship won by the Bangs girls’ track team Tuesday truly was significant.

To begin with, the Lady Dragons missed winning it by just one point last season. They were on a mission.

But while combing through the records of the school, coach Michelle Allen went back 50 years without finding a regional team title won by the program.

Toss in the fact that Bangs was trailing in the overall team standings heading into the brutal finale — the 1,600 relay, and the stage was set for something special.

The Bangs quartet of Chelsy Lipsey, Danielle Denbow, Hillary Evans and Destanie Finley not only took gold in the relay to wipe out last year’s frustration, they made school history.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Baird at home in Austin

When scanning regional golf scores for teams advancing to next week’s Class 1A state golf tournament, you may spot something familiar — the Baird girls.

Believe it or not, this will be the 13th journey to Austin in the last 15 years for the Lady Bears, who have brought home a medal of some kind every year, including the program’s ninth team title last year.

At the forefront of that success have been two families — the Neals and McDowells, who have placed three girls each into the program.

Current coach Misty Lowry is older sister of senior Mitzy McDowell. Current team member Alex Neal is the younger sister of Jodi Neal, who was teammates with Misty Lowry from 2002-2005.

Kyla Neal was a part of BHS state titles in 1997 and 1998. She was later joined by Mindy McDowell on the Lady Bears’ state championship teams in 1999 and 2000.

Misty and Jodi were part of a five-year run which saw the Lady Bears capture four state championships, including back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005.

Hamlin, a baseball mecca?

By reaching the playoffs this year, the Hamlin baseball team has qualified for postseason play in 15 straight seasons

The last time the state playoffs did not include the Pied Pipers 1995, when much of its current roster was still in diapers.

Ironically, coach Steve Biera and his brother-in-law, assistant coach/athletic director Russell Lucas, were part of this streak as coaches in 1997 and 1998.

Both returned two years ago after stints elsewhere to find that the streak still intact.

Bledsoe commits to Tarleton

All-Big Country basketball player Brianna Bledsoe of Stephenville has committed to Tarleton State.

Bledsoe, who may have been the least-publicized star in the Big Country last season, averaged 20 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in one of the state’s toughest Class 4A districts.

She was also a Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State pick who was selected to play in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Game.